Thu, 20 Nov 2008 09:35:03 +0100
First Days and Weeks After Prison Release Are Crucial
Prison, parole, and community authorities should intensify services for prisoners immediately before and after their release, says a new report from the National Research Council. Deaths of ex-prisoners and the commission of new crimes are extremely high in the first days and weeks after release. Specific services -- especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, and drug treatment coupled with surveillance -- reduce recidivism significantly, the report notes.
Highway Safety Symposium July 26-27
Geographical References: Washington
The Transportation Research Board?s Strategic Highway Research Program will hold its annual safety research symposium in Washington, D.C. The event will include presentations about research on driving behavior in pre-crash and non-crash circumstances and how the research could be used to reduce the number and severity of crashes. Requests for new project proposals will begin on July 30.
Vest Awarded National Medal of Technology
National Academy of Engineering President Charles Vest has been named a recipient of a 2006 National Medal of Technology. The medal, established by Congress in 1980, honors America?s leading innovators for outstanding contributions to the nation?s economic, environmental, and social well-being. The medals, along with the National Medals of Science, will be presented by President Bush at a White House ceremony July 27th.
?Faces of Science? Exhibit at NAS
Photographer Mariana Cook turns her camera on some of the most prominent men and women of the scientific community. The portraits together with the texts that accompany them offer a look at the remarkable qualities of an extraordinary group of people. The exhibit will be on view to the public from Aug. 1 to Sept. 30 at the National Academy of Sciences building, 2100 C St., N.W.
Limits of Organic Life in the Universe
Life with an alternative biochemistry to that of life on Earth may be possible elsewhere in the universe, according to a new report from the National Research Council. It says the search for extraterrestrial life should be broadened to consider this possibility and recommends research and missions in which the federal government should invest to increase our knowledge in this area.
New NAE President Arrives
Geographical References: Massachusetts
Charles Vest begins a six-year term as the new president of the National Academy of Engineering this month. Vest, a mechanical engineer, is president emeritus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Elected to the NAE in 1993, he has participated in a number of National Academies studies, including the landmark 2007 report Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, which focused on the key role science and engineering play in U.S. innovation and international competitiveness.
NAE Launches Online Ethics Center
The National Academy of Engineering is the new home of a Web site that provides engineers and engineering students with resources for understanding and addressing ethical problems they are likely to encounter in their field. The Online Ethics Center, part of NAE's new Engineering Ethics Center, is also designed to help educators promote ethics in engineering.
Report Recommends Research to Stay Ahead of Online Hackers
A broad research agenda that includes traditional, problem-specific studies as well as unconventional ideas is necessary to combat current and future cybersecurity threats, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report assesses why previous attempts to secure the online world have often failed, and offers a Cybersecurity Bill of Rights to guide future efforts.
Major Boost Needed in Federal Support for Coal R&D
Because coal will provide a substantial portion of U.S. energy for at least the next several decades, a major increase in federal support for research is needed to ensure that it is extracted efficiently, safely, and in an environmentally responsible manner, says a new report from the National Research Council. Policymakers also need a more accurate assessment of the nation's coal reserves, the report adds.
EPA Models Should Undergo 'Life-Cycle' Evaluation
Although the computer-model results behind many U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations will always be constrained by computational limitations, assumptions, and data gaps, models can be improved through continuous evaluation, says a new National Research Council report. Peer review should be considered at each stage of a model's life, uncertainties should be communicated clearly, and all stakeholders should be ensured access to information about the models, the report adds.
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